"Laiching Jagoi" (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯢꯆꯤꯡ ꯖꯒꯣꯢ) (literally, "Dance of summoning the deity"[1]) is a dance form performed by the maibis (priestesses) with the langthrei (a special leaf of Blumea balsamifera) held between their fingers.[1][2] This sequence involves a variety of expressive movements where the spirit of the deity is invited to enter each maibi's body.[1] It is an invocatory dance where the maibis stand with their hands in a pose symbolizing women's union.[3] In this dance form, the maibis, after invoking the deities from water, perform leitai nongdai jagoi.[4] This dance form is performed in front of the shrine of the deities.[5]

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Pathway".
  2. Doshi, Saryu (1989). Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition. ISBN 9788185026091.
  3. Narayan, Shovana (2005). Indian Classical Dance. ISBN 9788182900233.
  4. Ishwarjit Singh, E. (2005). Manipur, a Tourist Paradise. ISBN 9788176465069.
  5. Vijaylakshmi Brara, N. (1998). Politics, Society, and Cosmology in India's North East. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.